System and method for improved navigation between open windows in an application program using window tabs

ABSTRACT

A system, method and computer readable medium for navigating between multiple open windows in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a user program. The system presents a selectable graphical display within a program GUI corresponding to opened windows within that program. The user may select which of one or more opened windows to display by selecting the selectable graphical display corresponding to that window. The selectable graphical display may comprise a tab having text or other graphical data indicating the window to which it corresponds. The selectable graphical display corresponding to the window that is active within the program GUI may appear different from the other selectable graphical displays and may also comprise a kill box that enables the user to close that window. Additionally, a selection tool may be provided. When the selection tool is placed by the user over each selectable graphical display, a kill box may also be presented with that selectable graphical display to enable the user to close the window corresponding to that selectable graphical display.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority based on U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Serial No. 60/112,203, pending entitled “System and MethodFor Improved Navigation In a Windowing Environment With Window Tabs andBookmarks,” filed Dec. 14, 1998. This application is also related toco-pending U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 09/337,539 entitled,“System and Method for Improved Navigation Using Bookmarks For MovementBetween Locations In A Windows Environment,” filed herewith.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system and method for presenting a graphicaluser interface that improves navigation within available optionspresented by the system through the use of window tabs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Graphical user interfaces (GUI) enable users to navigate among variousoptions, programs, and features available by a system and have become astandard feature for computer systems. Some systems may enable a user toopen and operate multiple different programs simultaneously, with eachprogram having a GUI that enables users to select features and functionsin that program. In order to move between multiple open programs GUI's,an operating system GUI may be provided that has a task bar containingicons that may be selected to activate a different open program. Adifferent icon may be presented in the task bar for each program that isopened by the system. Additional icons may also be presented in the taskbar.

These systems do not provide a mechanism within a GUI for easily openingother programs or files within particular programs. To open a program,these systems require the user to either (1) utilize a start menu andenter the name of the program or file to be opened (which requires theuser to remember the name of the file for the program or browse througha number of files) or (2) minimize all currently displayed program GUIsto reveal a desktop on which various icons may be presented that, whenselected, open a particular program that is available on the system. Toopen a file within a particular program, a user repeats these steps,opens the desired program GUI, and then, after the desired program GUIhas been opened, the user proceeds with various steps within thatprogram to open a desired file.

For example, if a user has a word processing GUI opened and desires toread a particular electronic mail message, the user must first open anelectronic mail program and then open the desired message within thatprogram. If the electronic mail program is already active, the user muststill select the icon from the task bar for the electronic mail programand then open the desired file. This requires performing several stepsfor each action.

Other current systems may present a plurality of available programssuperimposed within a program window. For example, a plurality ofselectable icons may be presented near the top of the program GUI. Theuser may open one of these programs by selecting the icon presented atthe top. To open a particular file within that program, the user muststill open the program from one of the superimposed icons and then openthe file within the program.

Further, within each program a user may open multiple files or havemultiple windows opened at the same time within that program's GUI. Tonavigate between various open windows, the program GUI may provide amenu bar with pull-down menus that provide a variety of selectablefunctions. One of the pull-down menus may comprise a listing of theopened windows within the program. The user may thereby activate adifferent window by selecting from the list of windows presented in thepull-down menu.

Some current systems also permit the user to have multiple windowspresented within a program GUI window at the same time. The user mayselect the size of each window and may have the windows tiled orcascaded, for example. Additionally, some systems enable a user tominimize each window within a program window. Accordingly, multipleicons corresponding to each opened window within a program window may bepresented within the program window. The user may then select the windowto be maximized by selecting the icon corresponding to the programwindow. These current systems therefore do not provide an easy way tomove between open windows within a program GUI.

Other drawbacks also exist with existing systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome theseand other drawbacks of current systems.

One object of the present invention is to provide a system, method, andcomputer readable medium that facilitates navigation among a pluralityof opened windows within a computer system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system, method,and computer readable medium that enables a user to easily navigate toany portion of a program GUI by providing a direct link to the portionthrough a selectable graphical display.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system, methodand computer readable medium containing computer readable code embodiedtherein is provided that presents a selectable graphical display withina program GUI corresponding to opened windows within that program. Theuser may select which of one or more opened windows to display byselecting the selectable graphical display corresponding to that window.The selectable graphical display may comprise a tab having text or othergraphical data indicating the window to which it corresponds. Theselectable graphical display corresponding to the window that is activewithin the program GUI may appear different from the other selectablegraphical displays and may also comprise a kill box that enables theuser to close that window. Additionally, a selection tool may beprovided. When the selection tool is placed by the user over eachselectable graphical display, a kill box may also be presented with thatselectable graphical display to enable the user to close the windowcorresponding to that selectable graphical display.

This system may be realized by the provision of a plurality of modulesincluding a window presentation module that presents at least one of theopen windows within an area of the program GUI. A selection displaypresentation module presents one or more window selection displays, eachwindow selection display corresponding to one of the open windows. Awindow selection module enables a user to select a window to presentwithin the area by selecting one or more of the window selectiondisplays presented within the program GUI. The window presentationmodule is responsive to the window selection module to present thewindow corresponding to the window selection display that was selected.A window creation module creates a new window and a window selectiondisplay corresponding to that new window which is then presented by thewindow selection display presentation module. The window selectiondisplay presentation module presents a kill box with one or more of thewindow selection displays that enables a user to close the windowcorresponding to that window selection display by selecting the killbox.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from reviewing the detailed description and drawings of thepresent invention set forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an example of a program GUI according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is another example of a program GUI according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram of a method of operation of selectablegraphical displays for windows according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 depicts a bookmark database according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 depicts a method of creating a bookmark according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a method of selecting a bookmark according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system, methodand computer readable medium is provided for facilitating navigationwithin a computer system. FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a system GUI10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. GUI 10 maycomprise several features for improved navigation including a window bar33 with one or more window selection displays 34 and one or morebookmark buttons 60.

Specifically, a window bar 33 may comprise one or more window selectiondisplays 34, each of which may correspond to an open window within GUI10. In one example, a window selection display 34 may be presentedwithin window bar 33 for each window opened within GUI 10.

Window selection display 34 may be selectable by a user through anyknown mechanism for selecting portions within a GUI, including a mouse,keyboard, touch screen, voice response, computer pen, motion detector orany other like mechanism.

According to one embodiment, only one window may be active within GUI10. The active window may comprise the window in which editing may beperformed or from which information may be printed, for example.According to this embodiment, by selecting a window selection display34, the window corresponding to that window selection display 34 maybecome active.

GUI 10 may also comprise an opened window area 32, as shown in theembodiment of FIG. 1, in which an opened window may be displayed.Selection of a window selection display 34 may cause the windowcorresponding thereto to be presented within opened window area 32.Accordingly, a user may navigate between a plurality of opened windowswithin GUI 10 by selecting the window selection display 34 correspondingto the desired window. For example, by selecting window selectiondisplay 34 a, as depicted in FIG. 1, Window 1 corresponding to windowselection display 34 a may be presented in opened window area 32, asdepicted in FIG. 2.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, window selectiondisplay 34 corresponding to the window presented in opened window area32 may be displayed differently than the other window selection displays34. Any method for distinguishing between display portions of a GUI maybe used including colors, size, shape, tinting, flashing, rotating,scrolling, lining, highlighting, or any other method. Further, thewindow selection display 34 corresponding to the opened window maycomprise a kill box 36 associated therewith. By selecting kill box 36,the window with which it corresponds may be closed. For example, killbox 36 may be selected by moving pointer 38 over the kill box andactivating pointer 38 through an external device, such as a keyboard ormouse. Similarly, pointer 38 may be used to select window selectiondisplays 34.

According to another embodiment, kill box 36 may be presented with awindow selection display 34 when pointer 38 is moved near or over thatwindow selection display 34. Accordingly, even if a window is notpresented in opened window area 32, the user may close that window bymoving pointer 38 over the window selection display 34 corresponding tothat window and selecting kill box 36 presented for that window.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, multiplewindow selection displays 34 may have kill boxes 36 presented therewithwithin GUI 10. Also, all of the window selection displays 34 may havekill boxes 36.

Further, to assist in navigating, GUI 10 may also comprise a navigationbar 40 comprising, for example, one or more of the following navigationbuttons: an administration button 42, a design module initiation button44, a backward button 46, a forward button 48, a stop button 50, arefresh button 52, a search button 54 and a home button 56. Operation ofthese buttons may be according to known methods of using such buttons.Additional uses of these buttons is described in greater detail below.Further, administration button 42 may also be implemented as a bookmark,as those bookmarks are described below.

Forward and backward navigation buttons 46 and 48 may also be used tonavigate between windows within opened window area 32. Selectingbackward navigation button 46 presents each window opened in reverseorder. Similarly, selecting forward navigation button 48 presents eachopened window in the order it was presented. Forward and backwardnavigation buttons 46 and 48 may also be selected successively topresent each window that was previously active until the final ororiginal window is presented. Other navigation buttons may also be used.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, GUI 10 mayalso comprise a bookmark bar 58. Bookmark bar 58 may comprise one ormore bookmark buttons 60. According to this embodiment, bookmark buttons60 may comprise selectable graphical presentations that contain apresentation area containing graphics depicting what bookmark button 60represents. According to one embodiment of the present invention,bookmark buttons 60 may correspond to a link to a portion of a system.The links may refer to a program, view, page, file within a program,view within a file within a program, action, or any other linkableportion of a computer system. Accordingly, the user may be able to opena view within a file within a program by selecting bookmark button 60 inGUI 10. By enabling a user to create bookmarks to anything within thesystem, navigation within the system is vastly improved. Bookmarkbuttons 60 may be replaced with any other user selectable mechanismwithin a GUI, such as a pull-down menu or the like. Further, bookmarkbuttons 60 may be created in bookmark folders which allow the user toorganize the bookmarks. Accordingly, a depiction of the folder mayappear within bookmark bar 58. The user may then activate a bookmarkbutton 60 by selecting the folder and then selecting the bookmark buttonor other selectable portion depicted within the bookmark folder.

GUI 10 may also comprise other features. Specifically, GUI 10 maycomprise a task bar 12 comprising one or more icons for selecting openprograms in system 10. Task bar 12 may comprise an initiation icon 14, aplurality of opened program icons 16 and a time icon 18. Task bar 12 mayoperate according to known methods of operation of task bars.

GUI 10 may also comprise a program header 20 which has one or morewindow control icons 22 within that header. Program header 20 maydisplay the name of the program that is operating on the system. GUI 10may also comprise a file menu bar 24 comprising one or more file names26. Each file name 26 may represent a pull-down menu according to knownmethods.

GUI 10 may also comprise a toolbar 28 having one or more tool icons 30.Tool icons 30 may be selected by a user to perform one or more functionswithin the program displayed in GUI 10.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system 100, asshown in FIG. 3, may be provided for realizing the features describedabove. System 100 may comprise, for example, one or more of thefollowing modules: program control module 102, window initiation module104, window creation module 106, window selection display presentationmodule 108, window selection module 110, window presentation module 112,bookmark presentation module 114, bookmark creation module 116, bookmarkselection module 118, and bookmark execution module 120.

System 100 may comprise a portion of a personal computer, a networkcomputer, a notebook computer, a portable electronic device, a mainframecomputer system or any other computer system. It should also beunderstood that although several modules in FIG. 3 are depicted as beingwithin system 100, such modules may also be part of a different systemas well.

According to one embodiment, program control module 102 may control oneor more programs within system 100 and presenting GUIs, such as GUI 10.GUI 10 may therefore be controlled by program control module 102. Windowinitiation module 104 may receive instructions to create a new windowwithin GUI 10 through a menu, selection of a task bar button, selectionof a tool bar button, or some other mechanism, for example. Windowinitiation module 104 may cooperate with an external device permitting auser to utilize one of these initiation mechanisms.

Window creation module 106 may respond to an initiation instructionthrough window initiation module 104. Window creation module 106 opens awindow selection display 34 corresponding to the new window. Thecorrespondence between the window selection display 34 and the windowmay be stored in a database so that when window selection display 34 isselected, the corresponding window may be activated and/or presented.

Window selection display presentation module 108 may be responsible fordisplaying the window selection displays 34 in GUI 10. Window selectiondisplay presentation module 108 may also be responsible for presentingthe window selection displays 34 in such a way to distinguish betweenwindow selection display 34 corresponding to the active or presentedwindow and other window selection displays 34.

Window selection module 110 may be responsible for receiving selectionof window selection displays 34. Window selection module 110 maycooperate with an external mechanism that enables a user to select agraphical display within a GUI, such as a mouse, keyboard, etc. Uponselection of window selection display 34, window selection module 110may call window presentation module 112 and window selection displaypresentation module 108 to present the selected window and modify thedisplay of the window selection displays 34 within GUI 10. Windowpresentation module 112 may present a window within opened window area32 of GUI 10.

Operation of modules 102-112 may be understood in greater detail asdescribed below with respect to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of amethod 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In step202, a program is opened by program control module 102. A user may thenopen a window in step 204 through program control module 102, windowinitiation module 104, and window creation module 106. When a window isopened, in step 206, a window selection display 34 may be presented inGUI 10 by window selection display presentation module 108. Next, instep 208, if other window selection displays 34 are present in GUI 10,those window selection displays 34 may be modified to be distinguishablefrom window selection display 34 corresponding to the now-opened window.Window selection display presentation module 108 may perform thisfunction.

Then, in step 210, system 100 waits for one of several activities by theuser. If the user performs one of a plurality of window activities, step212 allows the window activity to be performed and returns to step 210.Window activities may comprise any activity that may be performed withrespect to an open window within a program. The activity may compriseediting, modifying, displaying, printing, sizing, shifting,highlighting, etc.

If, in step 210, the system receives a user selection of a windowselection display 34 through window selection module 110, the systempresents the window corresponding to that window selection display 34 instep 214. Window presentation module 112 may be responsible forpresenting the correct window. After step 214, the system may alsoperform step 208, as described above, to correctly display the currentwindows.

If, in step 210, the system receives an instruction to close a window,then in step 216, the window that was requested to be closed is closedby window presentation module 112. Then, in step 218, the windowselection display 34 corresponding to the closed window is also removedfrom GUI 10 by window selection display presentation module 108. Then,in step 220, if another window is still open within the program, thenanother window is presented in opened window area 32 by windowpresentation module 112. According to one embodiment, the windowselected may be the last opened window, the previously displayed window,or a random window. Any method for selection between a plurality ofwindows may be used to determine the window to present. The system thenperforms step 208.

If, in step 210, a user desires to open a new window, then steps 204,206, and 208 may be performed, as described above. This cycle maycontinue until, in step 210, the user decides to close the program orexit the system, for example.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, system 100 mayalso present bookmarks in GUI 10. Accordingly, bookmark presentationmodule 114 may be provided to present bookmarks within GUI 10.Predetermined bookmarks may be provided by the system. For example,bookmarks for a home page within the program, a mail program, aheadlines page, an electronic calendar program, an address book program,a “to-do” list, a database replication program, “favorites” of the user,databases, creating a new file, an Internet browser, etc., may beprovided by the program. Additionally, bookmarks for pages available onthe World Wide Web or other Internet location may also be provided. Forexample, bookmarks stored in a browser application may also be displayedwithin these bookmarks. Some or all of these predetermined bookmarks maybe presented by bookmark presentation module 114. As depicted in FIG. 1,bookmark presentation module 114 may present bookmark buttons 60 alongone side of opened window area 32 or in any other location.

Bookmark presentation module 114 may present a graphical display withinbookmark button 60 that indicates what the bookmark represents. Forexample, a house may be depicted for a home page, a newspaper may bedepicted for a subscription, and a calendar may be depicted for acalendar program. Bookmark buttons 60 may also be presented with wordsto indicate what the bookmark represents. Additionally, various levelsof bookmarks may be provided by bookmark presentation module 114.

Specifically, a button may be selected and then bookmark presentationmodule 114 may present additional selections. The additional selectionsmay be in the form of a menu, a pull-down screen or a pop-up listing ofadditional buttons that may be selected or other mode of selection.Multiple levels of additional selections may also be provided bybookmark presentation module 114.

A bookmark creation module 116 may also be provided that enables a userto create a bookmark. Bookmark creation module 116 may create a bookmarkdatabase 300, as, for example, depicted in FIG. 5. For each bookmarkcreated, bookmark database 300 may comprise a bookmark name entry 302, aprogram entry 304, and an operations entry 306. Program entry 304 maycontain linking information, such as the name of the program. Operationsentry 306 may contain additional linking information, such as thelocation within a program that the bookmark represents, such as adesired view, file, or other portion of the system. Other databaseformats may also be used for storing the links that correspond tobookmark button 60 presented in the GUI 10.

A bookmark selection module 118 may also be provided. Bookmark selectionmodule 118 enables a user to select a bookmark button 60 presented inGUI 10. Bookmark selection module 118 may cooperate with an externaldevice that enables selection of a display within a GUI.

Further, a bookmark execution module 120 may be provided that respondsto bookmark creation module 116 and interfaces with bookmark database300 to determine the link corresponding to the bookmark selected.Bookmark execution module 120 then opens the program identified in thelink and performs the operations necessary to present the view, page,file or other portion identified for this bookmark.

A method 350 of creating a bookmark is described with respect to FIG. 6.In step 352, a bookmark creation request is received through bookmarkcreation module 116. The request may be generated within any view,window, or portion of GUI 10 of a program operation on system 100. Instep 354, bookmark creation module 116 determines the program in whichthe request was generated. For example, if the user desires to bookmarka view within a word processing program, then the word processingprogram in which the bookmark is initiated is identified by bookmarkcreation module 116. Also in step 354, bookmark creation module 116determines any additional information that is to be stored in bookmarkdatabase 300 for this link. For example, the file name, view, database,or other portion within the system that is being bookmarked may beidentified. For example, FIG. 5 depicts information that may be storedfor a bookmark link including a message name, as in the first row, afile name as in the second row, a web address as in the third row, or adatabase name as in the fourth row. Other link information may also beidentified and stored within bookmark database 300.

In step 356, the information collected in step 354 may be used to createan entry for the new bookmark in bookmark database 300. Step 354 may beperformed by bookmark creation module 116. Then, in step 358, a bookmarkbutton 60 may be created in GUI 10. Step 358 may be performed bybookmark creation module 116 and bookmark selection module 118. Othermechanisms for enabling a user to select a bookmark button 60 may alsobe provided.

FIG. 7 depicts a method 370 for opening a bookmark by a user accordingto one embodiment of the present invention. According to this method, instep 372, a user may select bookmark button 60 through bookmarkselection module 118. In step 374, bookmark button 60 may be used todetermine the program and other operation information associated withthe selected bookmark button 60 by using bookmark database 300. Step 374may be performed by bookmark execution module 120. Then, in step 376,the program and other operations stored for this bookmark may beperformed by bookmark execution module 120. Specifically, bookmarkexecution module 120 may open a program, a file within a program or aview within a program, for example. Bookmark execution module 120 mayopen any location within system 100.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computerusable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein forpresenting table information in portions may be provided. For example,the computer usable medium may comprise a CD ROM, a floppy disk, a harddisk, or any other computer usable medium. One or more of the modules ofsystem 100 may comprise computer readable program code that is providedon the computer usable medium such that when the computer usable mediumis installed on a computer system, those modules cause the computersystem to perform the fimctions described.

According to one embodiment, program control module 102, windowinitiation module 104, window creation module 106, window selectiondisplay presentation module 108, window selection module 110, windowpresentation module 112, bookmark presentation module 114, bookmarkcreation module 116, bookmark selection module 118, and bookmarkexecution module 120 may comprise computer readable code that, wheninstalled on a computer, perform the functions described above. Also,only some of the modules may be provided in computer readable code.

According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, system100 may comprise components of a software system licensed by the LotusDevelopment Corporation under the names Lotus Notes™ and Lotus DominoDesigner™. System 100 may operate on a network and may be connected toother systems 100 sharing a common database. Other hardware arrangementsmay also be provided.

Other embodiments, uses and advantages of the present invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of thespecification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. Thespecification and examples should be considered exemplary only. Theintended scope of the invention is only limited by the claims appendedhereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A graphical user interface of a user program fornavigating between open windows comprising: a single user programgraphical user interface that displays at least one open window of atleast one open application within a window area of the user programgraphical user interface, wherein opening of windows associated with atleast a second open application may also be displayed in the userprogram graphical user interface; a window presentation module thatpresents the at least one open window within the window area of the userprogram graphical user interface; a program selection displaypresentation module that presents one or more program selection displaysin the user program graphical user interface, each program selectiondisplay corresponding to the at least one open application; a windowselection display presentation module that presents one or more windowselection displays in the user program graphical user interface, eachwindow selection display corresponding to one of the open windows; aprogram selection module that enables a user to select a program to bepresented in the user program graphical user interface; a windowselection module that enables the user to select a window to bepresented within the window area by selecting one or more of the windowselection displays; and wherein the window presentation module isresponsive to the window selection module to present the windowcorresponding to the selected window selection display in the windowarea.
 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a window creationmodule that creates a new window and a new window selection displaycorresponding to that new window; and wherein the window selectiondisplay presentation module presents a window selection displaycorresponding to the newly created window within the graphical userinterface.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the window selection modulepresents the window selection display corresponding to the active windowdifferently than the other window selection displays.
 4. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the window selection display presentation modulepresents a kill box with one or more of the window selection displaysthat enables a user to close the window corresponding to that windowselection display by selecting the kill box.
 5. A system for navigatingbetween open windows in a graphical user interface of a user programcomprising: a single user program graphical user interface means fordisplaying at least one open window of at least one open applicationwithin a window area of the user program graphical user interface,wherein opening of windows associated with at least a second openapplication may also be displayed in the user program graphical userinterface; a window presentation means for presenting the at least oneopen window within the window area of the user program graphical userinterface; a program selection display presentation means for presentingone or more program selection displays in the user program graphicaluser interface, each program selection display corresponding to the atleast one open application; a window selection display presentationmeans for presenting one or more window selection displays in the userprogram graphical user interface, each window selection displaycorresponding to one of the open windows; a program selection modulethat enables a user to select a program to be presented with userprogram graphical user interface; a window selection means for enablingthe user to select a window to be presented within the window area byselecting one or more of the window selection displays; and wherein thewindow presentation means is responsive to the window selection means topresent the window corresponding to the selected window selectiondisplay in the window area.
 6. The system of claim 5 further comprisinga window creation means for creating a new window and a new windowselection display corresponding to that new window; and wherein thewindow selection display presentation means presents a window selectiondisplay corresponding to the newly created window within the graphicaluser interface.
 7. The system of claim 5 wherein the window selectionmeans presents the window selection display corresponding to the activewindow differently than the other window selection displays.
 8. Thesystem of claim 5 wherein the window selection display presentationmeans presents a kill box with one or more of the window selectiondisplays that enables a user to close the window corresponding to thatwindow selection display by selecting the kill box.
 9. A method forenabling a user to navigate between open windows in a graphical userinterface of a user program comprising the steps of: presenting a singleuser program graphical user interface that displays at least one openwindow of at least one open application within a window area of the userprogram graphical user interface, wherein opening of windows associatedwith at least a second open application may also be displayed in theuser program graphical user interface; presenting at least one openwindow within the window area of the user program graphical userinterface; presenting one or more program selection displays in the userprogram graphical user interface, the one or more program selectiondisplays corresponding to the at least one open application; presentingone or more window selection displays, each window selection displaycorresponding to one of the open windows; enabling a user to select aprogram selection display that displays a program associated with theprogram selection display; enabling the user to select a window to bepresented within the window area by selecting one or more of the windowselection displays in the window area; and presenting the windowcorresponding to the selected window selection display.
 10. The methodof claim 9 further comprising the steps of: creating a new window;creating a new window selection display corresponding to that newwindow; and presenting a window selection display corresponding to thenewly created window within the user program graphical user interface.11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of presenting thewindow selection display corresponding to the active window differentlythan the other window selection displays.
 12. The method of claim 9further comprising the step of presenting a kill box with one or more ofthe window selection displays that enables a user to close the windowcorresponding to that window selection display by selecting the killbox.
 13. A processor readable medium having code embodied therein forenabling a user to navigate within windows of a user program comprising:processor readable code for causing a processor to present a single userprogram graphical user interface that displays at least one open windowof at least one open application within a window area of the userprogram graphical user interface; wherein opening of windows associatedwith at least a second open application may also be displayed in theuser program graphical user interface; processor readable code forcausing a processor to present at least one open window within thewindow area of the user program graphical user interface; processorreadable code for causing a processor to present one or more programselection displays in the user program graphical user interface, the oneor more program selection displays corresponding to the at least oneopen application; processor readable code for causing a processor topresent one or more window selection displays in the user programgraphical user interface, each window selection display corresponding toone of the open windows; processor readable code for causing a processorto enable a user to select a program selection display that displays aprogram associated with the program selection display; processorreadable code for causing a processor to enable a user to select awindow to be presented within the window area by selecting one or moreof the window selection displays in the window area; and processorreadable code for causing a processor to present the windowcorresponding to the selected window selection display.
 14. The mediumof claim 13 further comprising: processor readable code for causing aprocessor to create a new window; processor readable code for causing aprocessor to create a new window selection display corresponding to thatnew window; and processor readable code for causing a processor topresent a window selection display corresponding to the newly createdwindow within the user program graphical user interface.
 15. The mediumof claim 13 further comprising: processor readable code for causing aprocessor to present the window selection display corresponding to theactive window differently than the other window selection displays. 16.The processor medium of claim 13 further comprising: processor readablecode for causing a processor to present a kill box with one or more ofthe window selection displays that enables a user to close the windowcorresponding to that window selection display by selecting the killbox.